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Cost Effectiveness of Natural Regeneration for Sustaining Production Continuity in Commercial Pine Plantations

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Reforestation is a key to production continuity in commercial pine plantations. Although natural and artificial regeneration methods have been used successfully for pine seedling establishment, it is seedling growth during early stage of plantation development that affects the financial potential of a pine plantation. A study was initiated to determine the effect of regeneration method on seedling growth and development. A seed tree regeneration harvest was compared to a clear cut and plant regeneration harvest. The growth of the natural stand was compared to planted plantations with initial stocking densities of 1,200 and 680 seedlings per acre. In addition, the impact of mechanical and chemical site preparation, and herbaceous weed suppression was evaluated. Merchantable volume at age 15 varied between reforestation methods, seedling stocking densities and vegetation management practices being 540, 1,715, 2,730 and 3,440 feet3 per acre for natural plantation and three planted plantations, respectively. Age 15 land expectation values for the respective reforestation methods were 135, 170, 785 and 1,053 dollars per acre.

Citation

Clason, T.R. 2002. Cost Effectiveness of Natural Regeneration for Sustaining Production Continuity in Commercial Pine Plantations. In: Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–48. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pg. 287-290
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/4774